Senate OKs extended waiting period for abortions

7:58 PM,
Apr. 2, 2014

Senate Minority Leader Vivian Davis Figures, D-Mobile, waged a filibuster Wednesday against a bill establishing a 48-hour waiting period for abortions, saying it suggested women were incapable of making their own decisions.

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The Alabama Senate Wednesday gave final approval to legislation that would extend the current waiting period for abortions from 24 hours to 48 hours.

A second bill that would require parents to sign on consent forms for minors seeking abortions could come up in the Senate Thursday. Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh, R-Anniston, said another bill that would ban abortions at the detection of a fetal heartbeat is effectively dead for the session.

"There have been similar bills in at least three other states that are pending a determination from the courts," Marsh said after the Senate ...